The Kainai Nation (or , or Blood Tribe) () is a First Nations band government in southern Alberta, Canada, with a population of 12,800 members in 2015, up from 11,791 in December 2013.
translates directly to 'many chief' (from , 'many' and , 'chief') while translates directly to 'many chief people'. The enemy Plains Cree call the Kainai , 'stained with blood', thus 'the bloodthirsty, cruel', therefore, the common English name for the tribe is the Blood tribe.
The Kainai speak a language of the Blackfoot linguistic group; their dialect is closely related to those of the Siksika and Piikani. They are one of three nations comprising the Blackfoot Confederacy.
At the time treaties such as Treaty 7 were signed, the Kainai were situated on the Oldman, Belly, and St. Mary rivers west of Lethbridge, Alberta. The Kainai reserve Blood 148 is currently the largest in Canada with 4,570 inhabitants on and is located south of Calgary.
Economy
The Kainai Nation is engaged in diverse enterprises and they trade with domestic and international partners. Ammolite mining for example provides a rare highly demanded gem mineral to Asia for Feng Shui. Ammolite is currently known only to be found in the Bearpaw Formation as unique conditions of prehistoric times were optimal for the fossilization of marine life into ammolite. Over the years, mining operations have uncovered several oceanic dinosaur fossils which have been stored for study at the Royal Tyrrell Museum; however, they belong to the Kainai Nation.(Lawrynuik)
Specific claims
The Kainai Nation filed many specific claims with the federal government. In 2017, a federal court ruled that the Crown had underestimated the band's population, which resulted in the band's reserve being smaller than it should have been. As such, the Blood Tribe reserve could be expanded by , but the community could seek a cash-in-lieu-of-land settlement for this claim instead.
In July 2019, the Kainai Nation settled a claim over Crown mismanagement of the band's ranching assets. The community received a $150 million cash settlement. Chief Roy Fox said that $123 million of this settlement will be used to develop "housing, capital works, a new administration building and a new skating rink".
Government
Band council
The Kainai Nation is governed by an elected council of twelve to fifteen, with one chief. The term of office is four years. Historical chiefs of the Kainai are below:
Last of the Hereditary Chiefs Traditional Chief Jim Shot Both Sides (1956–1980)
Chief Chris Shade (1996–2004) Chief Charles Weasel Head (2004–2016) Chief Roy Fox (Makiinimaa – Curlew) (2016–Present)
Police force
In pre-treaty times, the iikunuhkahtsi were a society responsible for the punishment of misdeeds. The Blood reserve is currently policed by the Blood Tribe Police, with 31 officers in 2015.
Notable people
Cherish Violet Blood - stage and film actress
Red Crow - 1887 Treaty Number Seven Chief
Byron Chief-Moon - performer and choreographer
Eugene Creighton (Owns Many Horses) Eugene Brave Rock - actor and stunt man Faye HeavyShield - artist Marie Smallface Marule - academic administrator, activist, and educator Natawista Iksina (1825-1893) - interpreter and diplomat Jerry Potts Pete Standing Alone Seen from afar (1810-1869) - PEENAQUIM (Pe-na-koam, Penukwiim, translated as seen from afar, far seer, far off in sight, and far off dawn; also known as Onis tay say nah que im, Calf Rising in Sight, and Bull Collar), chief of the Blood tribe of the Blackfoot nation; b. c. 1810, probably in what is now southern Alberta, son of Two Suns; d. 1869 near the present city of Lethbridge, ALB Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers - Kainai and Sámi actress, producer, filmmaker and curatorial assistant Tom Three Persons - Rodeo athlete and rancher, best known for winning the saddle bronc competition at the inaugural Calgary Stampede in 1912
In popular culture
In 1960, the Kainai and their Sun Dance were featured in the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) documentary Circle of the Sun. Tribal leaders had been concerned that the Sun Dance might be dying out, and had permitted filming as a visual record.
In 1973, the NFB released the documentary Kainai, which discusses the construction and consequences of a factory on their property.